Optical advertising device



y 16, A. TRlPPE-FURST 1.7211

OPTICAL ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed May 31. 1927 INVEN rak- Patented July 16, 1929.

untrue STATES iazinii PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER rRIrPE-rtinsr, or BERLIN-REINICKENDORF, GER1VA1\TY, ASSIGNOR TO srnrnn MnLLn-n, or BERLIN, GERMANY.

OIPTIOAL ADVERTISING DEVICE.

' Application filed'May 31, 1927, Serial No. 195,474, and in Germany November 16, 1926.

This invention relates to an optical advertising device of the kind in which an advertisement is presented to the observer in such a manner that he has the impression of its floating in space and consists in this, that in an open show case representing a stage by means of one or more reflectors placed at a suitable inclination to the horizontal the observer is given the impression of seeing a separate space provided with a display opening suspended or otherwise supported in the apparently empty spaccof the stage, that is as if it were floating in space.

This separate space can be supplied from the back with the articles to be displayed by projection or by a positively, preferably intermittently, driven endless conveying means, while the visible opening of the separate space is capable of being closed automatically during the change from one advertisement to another by a curtain or some other suitable means. The edges of the reflectors which extend through the walls of the separate space and of the stage space may be covered by a transparent or nontransparent supporting means. In the former case theimpression is given of a separate space floating entirely unsupported in the empty stage space. Behind the reflector or reflectors the conveying means for the articles to be displayed are mounted so as to be invisible to the observer. By the same means any openings in the stage wall, through which the articles to be displayed are introduced into the stage space, are covered In order further to increase the impression of a completely empty stage space in a particularlyeffective manner, according to the present invention the stage is provided with a background bearing representations, lettering or the like orformed entirely or in part by articles which are complementary to or merge into representations, lettering or the like or articles which are mounted on one or more walls of the stage in the show case and whichcan be seen by the observers through the reflector or reflectors.

The separate space is preferably open in front and at the back, so that the articles to be displayed can be introduced from the back. At a distance behind it a back-ground is provided, which is formed entirely or in part by stationary or moving objects, representations, lettering or the like so that they replace the background of the separate space at least in part.

lVhen articles are to be caused to enter the separate space from the empty space and to be removed continuously or intermittently from the separate space, the means for conveying the articles Will be mounted behind thereflector or reflectors, so as to be invisible to the observer, the article to be displayed, after having been rendered visible in the separate space, will however not be withdrawn again behind the reflector or reflectors, but will be caused to leave the sepa rate space throughan opening in the bottom of the latter, which is either always or intermittently open, in such a manner as to be either visible or invisible to the observer.

Further modifications and details of the invention are described below, without the invention being in' any way, restricted to them.

More particularly it is not necessary for a separate stage ina show case to be provided, which forms part and parcel of the other parts of the advertising device, it be ing sufficient in some cases for the room in which the advertising device is erected itself to surround the other essential parts of the advertising device as a kind of show case stage. 7

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is-a section on line II of Figure 2,

Figure 2 a front view of Figure 1, and Figure 3 a detail of the driving mechanism for the example shown in Figs. 1 and In the example shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a kind of show case stage is surrounded by side walls 1, 2, the bottom 3 and the top 4.

The visible opening 5 in the front side is smaller than the space bounded by the walls 1, 2, 3, l. Approximately in the middle of the space there is a box 6, in the example shown a rectangular box, which is open at the front and the back and is suspended to I the top wall at by chains attached to each of its four corners. In Figure 1 the chain 7 is visible, which extends to the left at the front and actually hangs freely, and also the edge of the chain 8 which extends, to the back on the lefthand side, as will be seen from Fig. 2. From the rear upper edge of the box 6 a reflector 9 having the form of an isosceles trapezium extends upwards, in the example shown at an inclination of One edge of the reflector, as already stated, is in contact with the rear upper edge of the box 6 and the other edge is in contact with the top wall 4-. The two other sides are covered by the chains 8, 10 and are thus to be assumed as lying under these chains, as seen by the observer.

By this means a hollow space 11 is covered by the reflector 9 for the observer.

Behind the box 6 a background 12 is providet, which may be given any desired colour and shape and on which there may be any desired representation. Let it be assumed that there is lettering on the background (Fig. 2). Behind the reflector 9 the background has an opening 14: of any suitable shape, through which the driving mechanism for the articles to be displayed (when such are to be provided) can extend or through which the articles to be displayed, which appear suddenly in the box 6, can be introduced from the empty space.

011 the under side 15 oi the top wall 1 there will be a true mirror-image of the background 12; thus, in the present instance the colour and lettering (reversed) will be the same as on the background 12.

The observer looking from a suitable dis tance through the opening 5 into the show case stage will thus (Figure 2) actually see directly the colour and lettering or" the background 12 (the lettering which is shown in full lines in Figure 2), while he will imagine that he sees the parts of the background covered by the reflector 9 as being actually there, as he has presented to him by the reflector 9 a reflection of the picture 15 on the top cover with the lettering thereon and this picture, owing to the similarity and symmetrical arrangement of the picture 15 and the background 12 with respect to the reflector, according to well-known optical laws ap pears to him as if lying in the plane of the background. What the observer actually sees in the reflector, but imagines that he sees as lying in the unbroken background, is shown in broken lettering in Fig. 2. 7

Hence, the observer will have the impression that he sees those parts of the background as well, which are covered by the reflector 9 and lie between the chains 8, 10 and the upper edge of the box 6, the box 6 will appear to him as it suspended or floating in space and he will be surprised by the appearance and disappearance of articles in the box 6.

Any article can be presented say in the following manner Behind the reflector 9 and therefore invisible to the observer guides 16 of any suitable kind are provided. on which a carriage 17 having pairs of rollers 18 is suspended. The carriage supports the article to be shown, for instance the typewriter 19. The carriage is held by a chain or band 20 which passes over guide pulleys 21, 92 to a counterpoise 23. The front of the box 6 is covered by a curtain 2%. Operating means of any suitable kind are provided for raising and lowering the carriage 17. A special operating mechanism will be described with reference to Figure 3.

lllhecurtain being closed, the article 19 to be displayed is introduced into the box 6, the curtain is raised and the observer will the typewriter 19 in the box. The curtain 24 is thereupon lowered again, the carriage 17 with the article 19 is drawn up sulliciently far for the latter to lie coinpletely behind the reflector 9 and the curtain 24: is raised again. The surprised observer suddenly sees the empty box 6 before him, the displayed article has completely disappeared. W hen the curtain is again lowered and raised, the article will suddenly appear again from nowhere in the box. By this means the illusion is produced, that in a box apparently floating unsupported in space articles appear and disappear again. The illusion is increased if the interior decoration of the box (3 corresponds to that of the background, for instance as regards colour, so that the observer has the impression of only seeing the background 12 through the box 6 and imagines that he sees the background of the box. The same result can be obtained, if, after the article 19 has been withdrawn from the box, a; background of the box 6 be first drawn down before the curtain 2 1 is raised to show the empty box 6, while, when the article 19 is in position in the box, another box wall might be fixed behind it, so that the box would again appear as being closed at the back. A suitable covering should be provided for the carriage 1?. In the example illustrated a sheet of paper 50 is provided for the purpose in i the machine. 7

Instead of articles or pictures being introduced into the box in this manner, they might be arranged on turntable mounted behind the reflector 9, so as to be invisible to the observer. The articles will then be brought by turning the turntable into a position, in which they can be laid on the carriage 1'7 and be presented by the same in the box 6 and withdrawn again, after which they will be placed on the turntable again. An invisible hand might of course also be extended tl'irough the opening 14 and succe 'vely place fresh articles behind the reflector 9 on the carriage 17. The automa ic n'iechanical delivery of articles to the carriage and their removal from the same is however preferred, so that there may be no unpleasant surprises due to errors in operating the arrangement.

It is obvious, however, that, when the curtain 24: is closed. any articles may be allowed to roll along the guides 16 into the time while the curtain. is raised, and, by

swinging down the bottom of the box, fall out of it. The articles may then fall into a hopper 26 (shown in broken lines) and be conveyed away from it in any suitable manner, for instance by a conveyor band which conveys the articles away to the back and then upwards, so that they are eventually returned to the guides 16. The raising and lowering of the curtain 24 is also efiected automatically by a cord which passes through a hole, for instance in one of the walls of the box, to the back and is then taken upwards behind the reflector 9, so that it can be operated through the opening 14 or be extended to an automatic controlling mechanism. On the cord being released the curtain will drop, for instance through a weight at its lower edge. Details of the means for controlling the curtain will also be described with reference I to Figure 3.

Suitable articles for being continuously displayed in the box 6 and falling out or. it again are for instance cigarettes and other articles of personal use. Instead of articles being introduced into the box and being allowed to fall out of it again, the reverse proceeding may of coursebe adopted, the articles being projected into the box from below or from the sides and caused to disappear from it again. For instance a fountain might be provided in the bottom wall 3 of the box, the liquid allowed to enter the box and be conveyed away for instance by suction behind the reflector 9.

Figure 3 shows a particularly suitable constructional form of the operating mechanism of the carriage 17 and the curtain 2d according to Fi ure 1, the View being diagrammatic and showing the mechanism as seen "from the back. The counter-poise 23 which, for making the figure clearer, is

shown-by broken lines, is represented as be ing near the top of its travel in its upward motion. The counter-poise has two step members 31 and 32 at the back, which .project into the path of an endless chain 33 which is led over two chain wheels 34, 35 having fixed bearings. The chain 33 is composed mainly of relatively narrow links, only a certain portion of its length being composed of thicker members 36. One. of the chain wheels 34 or 35 is driven in any suitable manner, for instance by an'electric motor, continuously at a predetermined or adjustable speed. As will be seen from the drawing, on the chain being put in motion in the direction shown by the arrows, the

iupper end of the set of thicker links 36 will, .on the latter commencing to ascend, strike against the stop member 31 and carry the latter along with them, whereby the countor-poise 23 is raised and carried along until the thicker portion 36 of the driving chain commences to move over the chain wheel. 34 and is thuswithdrawn out of the path. of the stop member 31. As soon as the thick portion 36 of the'chain has moved round the chain wheel 34: and proceeds to descend, the forward end-of the thick part will strike against the stop member 32, carrying the stop member with the counterpoise 23 downwards, until the thick portion 23 of the chain commences to move round the chain wheel 35 and thereby to move out of the path of the stop member 32. The counter-poise 23 will only be carried up again, after the whole of tlie'thickportion 36 of the chain has moved round the wheel 35 and has commenced its upward movement. For this reason the vertical distance between the operative surfaces of the stop members 31, 32 is made greater than the length of the thick portion 36 of the chain. During the upward motion of the counterpoise 23 the carriage 17 with the article to be displayed will move under gravity into the display position. During the downward motion of the counter-poise the article will be withdrawn from the visible position into the 'coveredposition behind the reflector 9.

For operating the curtain 24 a cord 38 is attached to the end of a long lever arm 37, the cord leading as already described to a pulley for raising the curtain 24. i The lever 37 has a fixed. pivot at 38' and has rigidly fixed to it a short lever arm 39 and a pawl 410. The short lever arm 39 is connected by a link 11 to an arm 42 which has a fixed pivot at 13 and is connected to a pawl n.

By a spring 15 the whole system of levers and. links is drawn into the position shown in the drawing. 1

It is assumed that, when the lever 37 is in the position shown in Figure 3, it is in its highest position, in which the cord 38 which passes over one or more guide pulleys 46 has its other end rolled to'a suflicient extent on a pulley 4-7, so that the curtain 24, the upper roller of which is fixed rigidly to the pulley 47, is enabled to fall down completely.

hen the thick portion 36 of the driving chain. has moved almost entirely around the chain wheel 3 1 so that the counter-poise 23 has been brought into its highest position a suiiicient period oi time beforehand (a period of time corresponding to that, within which the upper end of the thick portion 36 of the chain moves around the chain wheel and the article 19 is thus sure to be in the visible position, the thick portion 36 will Cir strike the pawl 40 which by the spring 45 is pressed against or brought as near as possible to the endless chain 33 through the link 41 and the arm 39. By this means the pawl 40 is moved in the clockwise direction by the thick part 36 of the chain and forces the lever arm 37 downwards, causing the cord 38 also to be drawn downwards and to unroll from the pulley 47, so that the pulley is turned and the curtain raised. The gearing ratios are so selected that, when the pawl 40 is entirely pushed aside, the curtain 24 will be raised to the requisite extent. It will remain in this position as long as the thick portion 36 of the chain passes along under the pawl 40. As soon as the thick portion 36 of the chain has left the pawl 40, the latter will return into its initial position under the action of the spring 45 and the curtain is free to wall. As soon as this has taken place, or shortly afterwards, the thick portion 36 of the chain will as it continues to move strike against the stop member 32, carrying the counter-poise 23 down with it, so that the carriage 17 and with it the article 19 will be sure to be removed from the box 6 only after the curtain 24 has been closed. This will have taken place, when the thick portion 36 of the chain commences to move around the chain wheel 35. this motion has proceeded sufliciently long for the forward end of the thick portion 36 of the chain to strike against the pawl 44 the latter will be pushed aside, causing the lever 37 to move downwards and the curtain 24 to rise, so that the observer will see the empty box 6. The curtain 24 will remain open as long as the thick portion 36 of the chain continues to move under the pawl 44. After the curtain has fallen the thick portion 36 of the chain will in its upward motion strike against the stop member 31 and raise the counter-poise 23, when the carriage 17 with the article 19 will commence to move into the visible position, but not before the curtain 24 has been closed again. If required guides 48 may be provided inside the chain 33, 36, so as to ensure the stop members 31 and 32 being carried along by the part 36 of the chain,

The driving mechanism may of course be constructed in any other suitable manner. Similarly the constructional examples shown in the drawing may be suitably modified in many ways. Thus for instance the chains 7, 8, 10 may be made not of metal, but entirely or in part of any transparent material, which will nevertheless cover the edges of the reflector by total reflection. The as sumption of the observer, that any moving members may be contained in the chains, is thus counteracted and the deception still further increased.

It is of course not necessary to arrange the reflector or reflectors so as to be always inclined by45 to the horizontal. The reflector or reflectors may be placed at any other inclination, in which case however the surface, of which a mirror-image. is to be pre sented, for instance the picture on the top wall, must be placed in some other position than the horizontal, in order that the observer may always be given the impression that he sees the background. If the actual background is not placed vertically, this must be allowed for by a suitable arrangement of the reflector and the parts to be reflected.

What I claim is:

1. An optical advertising device for displaying objects so that they appear as if floating unsupported in space, comprising an open ended show case representing a stage, a separate box in the said show case, said separate box being provided with a visible opening, an inclined reflector extending from said separate box, means for supplying to the said separate box from the back articles to be displayed and means to remove them therefrom and means for automatically closing the opening in the separate box while the articles are being changed, as set forth.

2. An optical advertising device for dis playing objects so that they appear as if floating unsupported in space, comprising an openended show case representing a stage, a separate box in the said show case, said separate box being provided with a visible opening, an inclined reflector extending from said separate box, means for projecting into the said separate box from the back articles to be displayed and means to remove them therefrom and means for automatically closing the opening in the separate box while the articles are being changed, as set forth.

3. An optical advertising device for displaying objects so that they appear as if floating unsupported in space, comprising an open ended show case representing a stage, a separate box in the said show case, said separate box being provided with a visible opening, an inclined reflector extending from said separate box, a conveyer arrangement behind said separate box and reflector for intermittently supplying to the said separate box from the back articles to be displayed and means for automatically closing the opening in the separate box while the articles are being changed, as set forth.

4. An optical advertising device as claimed in claim 1, means for supporting the separate box covering the edges of the reflector, as set forth.

5. An optical advertising device as claimed in claim 1, transparent means, supporting the separate box, said transparent means covering the edges of the reflector, as set forth.

6. An optical advertising device as claimed in claim 1 in which the show case is provided with an opening in one of its walls, through which the articles to be displayed are introduced, and in which said reflector covers the said opening and the means for supplying the articles to bedisplayed to the said separate box from the back with respect to the observer, as set forth.

7. An optical advertising device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a background arranged behind the separate box, said background carrying the representations which are complementary to or merge into the reflected representations provided on the walls of the show case, as set forth.

8. An optical advertising device as claimed in claim 1 in which the separate box is provided with an opening at the back and in combination therewith of a background at a distance behind the said box, consisting of stationary and moving objects, as set forth.

9. An optical advertising device as claimed in claim 1 in which the separate box is provided with openings in the bottom wall of the separate box and means for opening them, for the passage of the articles displayed as set forth.

'10. In an optical advertising device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a turn-table is arranged behind the reflector for carrying the objects to be displayed, and means for successively conveying said objects from said turn-table into the separate box and withdrawing said objects and placing them on the turn-table again.

ALEXANDER TRIPPE-FURST. 

